Firearm.



No. 557,052. Patented Aug. 2a, |900.

w. v..BLE HA.

FIREARM.

(Application led July 21, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

#atenten Aug. 2s, |900.

No. 657052. l

W. V. BLEHA.

FIREARM (Application led July 21, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

Patented Aug. 28, |900. w.-v. BLEHA.

FIREARM.

(Applicaion led July 21, 1 899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE IVILLIAM V. BLHA, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-'IHIRDS TO OTTO F. STIFEL AND GUSTAV A. PLEUS, OF SAME PLAGE.

FIREARM.

lSIPE(LILEICAC'IIION' forming part of Letters Patent N o. 657,052, dated August 28, 1900.

. Application tiled July 21,1899. VSerial No. 724,604. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM V. BLHA, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My present invention relates to certain improvements in firearms of the kind shown and described in Letters Patent No. 633,949, dated September 26, 1899, wherein the breech-block is lowered by the cocking of the hammer and held in its lowered position by the ejector until a shell is inserted, when the breechblock will be automatically raised to firing position.

My present invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Figure I is a detail longitudinal section illustrative of my invention. Fig. II is an enlarged detail perspective view with parts broken away. Fig. III is a detail view in section with the parts in their closed position. Fig. IV is a like view with the parts in their open position. Figs. V and VI are transverse sections. Fig. VII is a detail longitudinal section showing the safety-lock for the hammer. Fig. VIII is a detail transverse section showing a modification.

1 represents the stock of the gun; 2, the barrel; 3, the hammer; 4, the breech-block; 5, the ejector; 6, the tiring-pin, located in the breech-block 7, the trigger, provided with the sear 8 to engage the tumbler 9 of the hammer; 10, the trigger-guard, and ll the gunframe. p

The breech-block has a downwardly-extending pin 12, that fits in a socket 13 in the trigger-guard 10. The pin is surrounded by a coiled spring 14, that presses upwardly against the breech-block to hold the latter in its elevated position, except when force is used to lower it. The lower end of the spring fits between collars 15 and 16 on the triggerguard, as shown in Fig. III. To have the parts work accurately, it is necessary to have the pin 12 lit snugly in the socket 13, and to prevent the imprisonment of air or the forming of a vacuum in the socket I provide the pin with a longitudinal groove 17, which insures freedom of movement of the breechblock. The breech-block tits in the frame 11 5 5 and is capable of being moved vertically from the position shown in Fig. III to the position shown in Fig. IV to permit the insertion of a shell.

The ejector 5 is pivoted to the frame 1l at 6o 18, and its lower end is provided with a toe 19, extending beneath the breech-block, against which the breech-block impin ges in its downward movement, thereby causing the ejector to be thrown backward to extract the empty shell, and when thrown backward a rib 20 on the ejector enters a groove 2l in the end of the breech-block, so that the breech-block is held in its lowered position by the ejector until another shell is inserted, which moves 7o the ejector forward to its closed position out of engagement with the breech-block, and the latter is then automatically raised by the spring 14 from the position shown in Fig. IV

tothetiringposition. (ShowninFig.III.) By

providing the ejector with a toe or projection against which the breech-block impinges the ejector is moved by a positive action.

Should it be desired to close the gun without inserting a shell, the ejector may be 8o moved out of engagement with the breechblock by means of a pin 22, (see Fig. V,) made fast to the ejector and which lits in a slot in the frame 11, the outer end of the pin having a head 23, by which it is moved. The upblock, (see Figs. II and VI,) the inner end of the pin fittingbehind the hammer when the latter is down, so that as the hammer is being cocked it presses against the pin and forces the breech-block downwardly to the position shown in Fig. IV. The back of the roo hammer is provided with a spring-plate 2S, against which the ypin 25 bears, and just befor@ the hammer is fully cocked the pin reaches the end of the spring and enters a groove 29 in the side of the hammer, thereby becoming released from the hammer, so that grooves 29 and 30.

when the shell is inserted and the breechblock released the upward movement of the breech-block will not be interfered with by the pin, the pin rising, of course, with the breech-block, its inner end moving through the groove 29 in the side of the hammer. As the hammer descends the pin a rides in a shallow groove until the hammer passes it, and then it springs out behind the hammer, as shown in Fig. VI. On the other side of the hammer the breech-block may be provided with a xed pin 3l, that Works in grooves in the hammer corresponding to the This pin will be engaged by the hack ot the hammer just after the breech-block has commenced to descend, thus taking part of the strain from the pin 25a.

Instead of using a fiat spring for the pin y 25 a coiled spring 32 may be employed, as

shown in Fig. VIII.

The hammer may be held in its cocked position by a slide 33, set in the frame 1l, and which when pressed forward enters a slot 34. in the hammer. The slide is heid in its respective positions by a spring-plate 35, (see Fig. VIL) having a swell 36, adapted to be received by grooves 37 in the under side of the slide.

40 represents the mainspring of the gun, which rests upon the bottom of the frame 11 and which engages the rear of the hammer, as lshown at 4.1, Fig. III.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a firearm, the combination ofa breechblock having a guide-pin formed with a longitudinal groove, a hammer, a connection between the hammer and the breech block, means for automatically raising the breechblock, and a trigger-guard having a closed socket in which the guide-pin is fitted; the groove in the pin forming a vent for the compressed air Within the socket; substantially 'as described.

2. In a firearm the combination of a breechblock, a hammer, and a connection between the hammer and the breech-block whereby the latter is moved bythe cooking of the hammer; said connection consisting of a springactuatedv pin connected to one side of the breech-block and a fixed pin connected to the other side of the breech-block, one of said pins being adapted to be engaged by the back of the hammer, and said hammer being grooved to permit the passage of the pins when the breech-block is raised and when the hammer is lowered, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM V. BLEHA.

In presence of- GEO. H. KNIGHT, N. V. ALEXANDER. 

